Zoom The pressure comes from within

Nick Heidfeld on Thursday said he is not feeling the heat of the pressure he is under to retain a BMW Sauber seat in 2009.

Team officials were unimpressed with his run to ninth at Valencia two weeks ago, and boss Mario Theissen said on the eve of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix weekend that he plans "to see both cars finish solidly in the points" at Spa.

But even though Heidfeld's options to remain in F1 appear limited should he lose his BMW ride, the German driver said at the circuit that speculation about his future does not bother him.

"I put myself under pressure more than anybody else could do from the outside," he said.

Heidfeld said his situation after Valencia, where team-mate Robert Kubica finished on the podium, is obvious.

"It's pretty clear; if one car finishes on the podium and I finish ninth, nobody needs to tell me anything," he explained.

Kubica, the impressive Polish driver who is reported to be staying at BMW in 2009, said on Thursday he would be happy to keep Heidfeld as his team-mate.

"People like to forget what Nick has done in the past. You have to look at the bigger picture, not just at what you want to see," the 23-year-old told reporters.

"Nick is a very good driver, and he has shown that many times. I struggle to find someone who is quicker."

"I don't see why we can't be team-mates again next season, but I would have no problem if there was also a different driver," Kubica added.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM